Thanks to Bookouture & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

Another entertaining novel with an endearing character enduring life in World War II England during the Blitz of 1940. Edie York (hey, did you noticed all the “E” words including Edie’s first name)? is an overworked and underpaid secretary at the Manchester Chronicle.

Twenty-four-year-old Edie narrates with a witty and engaging voice. She has wanted to be a crime reporter since she was ten years old and hopes she is getting closer to her dream when she is unexpectedly promoted as the newspaper’s “obituarist.”

With the novel’s references to murder mystery books and authors including Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, and Dashiel Hammett, it’s no surprise that a death soon occurs. Edie believes it’s a murder, not an accident, and is compelled to help solve and write about it for the paper, demonstrating her capabilities as an official crime reporter.

Edie’s group of friends grows, beginning with her best friend and flatmate Annie, to include Detective Inspector Lou Brennan, mortician Arnold Whiting, wealthy art lovers Charles and Lillian Emerson, and a huge dog named Marple. While she investigates the first death, a few more occur which are definitely murders, and possibly all are related. She works on her obituary assignments as well as her crime investigation in between air raids.

In addition to this being an entertaining murder mystery, Edie provides an accurate description of life during wartime: “This new life of air-raid shelters, the endless queuing, the government telling us what we could and couldn’t eat and wear and buy. Nobody I knew really believed that we’d die. It all felt like a ridiculous inconvenience, a silly experiment that had got out of hand. Yet at the same time, I wanted nothing more than for us to win the war and return to normal.” This sentiment reminded me of the similarity to how many of us felt during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.

Taking place in December 1940, this delightful debut novel includes red herrings, suspicious characters, and numerous clues amid the gas masks, blackout curtains, and rations. I appreciated the author’s research and was pleased to learn a second book in the series is coming out later this month. Looking forward to reading more about Edie’s exploits in “Murder in a Country Village." ( )

F.L. Everett's new book, Murder in the Blitz, ticks all the boxes in one of my new favorite storytelling styles. Such as...set in the WWII years, a plucky female protagonist, a mystery, a crime, an excellent crew of supporting characters, a devious culprit and more.

Manchester 1940. Edie has worked at a local newspaper for the last five years. She yearns for something more than being a typist and tea maker - such as the crime beat. But, she'll take the chance she's been offered and she'll give it her all. After all, being an obituarist, is a step closer, isn't it? And yes, Edie's path does indeed cross that of a crime...

Edie is easy to like and get behind. She's tenacious, determined and has a good heart. But - she's more than a little naïve sometimes. (I wanted to point out certain people and their behaviour to her!) Her roommate Annie is a good sidekick character. I hope that she, and the two other supporting characters are back in the next entry. I think the door is open for a burgeoning relationship - or two.

Everett captures the 'can do, keep calm' attitude of war time England. Lots of detail cements the mental image I created of the setting.

The mystery is a good one and suitable for the time. The path to the aha moment is easier for the reader to see I think. Edie is a few steps behind. But that's the fun of cozy mysteries, isn't it?
This is the first book in a planned series - the Edie York Mysteries. I'll be watching for the second book. ( )

This was such a delightful start to a new cozy mystery series set in WWII Manchester, England. The protagonist, Edie York, has left the orphanage and is now out on her own, making a living as a typist at the Manchester Chronicle. She rents a flat with her best mate, Annie and together they dream of their wonderful future selves. Edie's dream is to be a crime columnist. A promotion to obituarist will just have to suffice, for the moment. While helping out a colleague, she stumbles across the accidental death of a Home Guard volunteer during their preparatory maneuvers. Or, was it? Perhaps there's more to this story and Edie leaves no stone unturned in pursuing it. The bodies accumulate and hopefully, Edie's is not next.

The writing of this story is solid and the research is spot on. The mise en scène is cinematic, right out of a WWII film. The tension builds gradually, accelerates as it nears the climax and then eases gently. The characters are developed well and slowly over the course of the story. (No need to give it away all too soon.) Edie is obviously quite naïve and hopefully, the series (and Edie) survive long enough to make her character a bit more credible for the likes of a newspaper reporter. It will be fun observing her mature through the war years. All in all, this was an excellent story and a very good introduction to a new series.

I am grateful to Flic Everett and her publisher, Bookouture for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: ‎ Bookouture
Publication Date: September 21, 2023
ISBN:‎ 978-1837905010
Pages:‎ 306 pages ( )